Differential effects of nicotine but not cathinone on motor activity of P and NP rats.

The locomotor stimulatory effects of nicotine (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg) and cathinone (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) were assessed in alcohol-preferring (P) and -nonpreferring (NP) rats. Whereas P rats demonstrated enhanced (0.8 mg/kg) or no change (0.4 mg/kg) in spontaneous locomotor activity (SMA) to nicotine, NP animals showed no change (0.4 mg/kg) or depression of activity (0.8 mg/kg). However, following cathinone administration both P and NP rats exhibited an increase in SMA. The above results are discussed in light of the genotypic variations between P/NP rats and the potential mediation of differential neurotransmitter effects in the two lines.